We spent two days in Penang, Malaysia during our last trip to South-East Asia but we had a blast. We knew nothing about Penang when we got there, but there were so many things to do and see, and we never got to all of them! I would love to go back to Penang and explore some more! Here are our top 8 things to do in Penang.

Top 8 things to do in Penang

Here are the sights we recommend in Penang:

1. Penang Hill

Penang Hill

As the signs say, you have not been to Penang until you have visited Penang Hill. We loved Penang Hill. The view from the top of the hill is fantastic. There is also many things to see and to at the top. There are a mosque and a Hindu temple at the top, a restaurant, the owl museum and lots of food stalls selling traditional fare. When we were there-there were photo opportunities with snakes, parrots and a dinosaur exhibition. A lovely way to spend a few hours.

2. Penang Interactive Museum

Penang Interactive Museum

The Penang Interactive Museum is easily the most fun museum I have ever visited. We had such a lovely fun time there that I recommend visiting it to anyone young at heart. It is a place with lots of murals painted on the wall; one can then position yourself next to these murals, and when you take pictures it looks real! We spent quite a bit of time here, exploring the different pictures at different positions! There is also a small history section, but it is not the focus of this museum!

3. Pinang Peranakan Mansion

Pinang Peranakan Mansion

This is another museum that we consider a must-see, especially if you like learning about cultures different from your own. It is a whole house that has collections of furniture, fashion, jewellery of the Peranakan people. It also gives details on their traditions and history. Fascinating stuff!

4. Khoo Kongsi Temple

Khoo Kongsi temple in Penang

This temple is spectacular. Its decorations are so intricate, and unusual one can stare at it for hours. The inside is beyond beautiful as well. At the back of the temple, there is a small museum with details of the type of temple it is and a bit of the history of Penang. Interesting. Opposite the temple is a stage for Chinese opera. Definitely worth a visit.

5. Long Beach Kafe and Batu Ferringhi Night Market

Long Beach Kafe near the Batu Ferringhi Night Market

One of the places we enjoyed the most in Penang was the Long Beach Kafe. They sell such a large variety of food – food from Singapore, Malaysia, India and even Italy. And the prices were really very reasonable! The night market is not such a big deal, it is a pretty standard market, but visiting Long Beach Kafe and taking a stroll through the market is a nice way to spend a relaxing evening.

6. Penang Time Tunnel

Penang Time Tunnel

This is actually a museum, but it is tunnel starting at a specific point in the history of Penang. As you walk along the tunnel there are exhibits with descriptions.

7. Kek Lok Si Temple

Kok Lek Si Temple

Another impressive temple. This one is massive! To get to the big buddha on the top, you need to take a funicular. The gardens are beautiful and there is also a shop where you can buy buddhist things. From the top of the pagoda you get an amazing view of Penang.

8. Chew Jetty

Chew Jetty

Although Chew Jetty is not the most exciting place to visit, we still thought spending some time there is worth it as it is a pretty unique historical site. A clan jetty is a place where Chinese immigrants build houses on stilts with wooden walkways over the water between them. Chew refers to the surname of the specific family who build the Chew Jetty. We spent about an hour there. It is a very clean area and have several ladies selling fried tofu or shrimps. There is also a Chinese restaurant there.

Have you been to Penang? What are your favourite things to do in Penang?

While in Washington, DC, we wanted to try some popular American food that we do not have back in South Africa. One of the free guidebooks from the Capitol Inn hotel recommended Ben’s Chilli Bowl at it’s original U Street location. Ben’s Chili Bowl was started more than 50 years ago in 1958, and they still serve the same original recipe chilli and is considered to serve the best chilli bowl in Washington DC. Who can resist this! In fact, Ben’s Chilli Bowl is one of the landmarks on the African American Heritage Trail in Washington – quite an accomplishment.

Ben’s Chilli Bowl landmark on the African American Heritage Trail in Washington DC

Getting there for the best chilli bowl in Washington DC

We visited Ben’s Chilli Bowl on a hot summer’s day in July. Although we were there after the regular lunch hours, it was extremely busy with a long, long line for take-outs. Even the tables for sit-down customers in the main eating area and the dining area in the back were packed! It was evident that Ben’s Chilli Bowl still serves the best chilli bowl in Washington DC!

We were incredibly lucky to find seats at the main counter just after entering – a good sign!

We were helped quite quickly and was served ice water immediately, which was very welcoming since it had been so hot outside.

How does one choose the best chilli bowl in Washington DC?

We simply could not decide what to eat, but the waitress was very helpful in explaining what the most popular dishes were and what each consisted of and eventually we placed our order. It took a while for the food to be prepared, but this gave us time to watch the comings and goings of the customers and also study the photos on the walls – it is all part of the Ben’s Chilli Bowl experience!

By the time our food came, we were starving! The portion sizes were quite large!

Ben’s Chilli Bowl Chilli Con Carne

We had the Original Chilli Half-Smoke dogs which came with potato chips, Chilli Con Carne and Chilli cheese fries.

Ben’s Chilli Bowl Original Chilli Half-Smoke dog

The portions were so big that we found it difficult to finish it all. We also had some of their homemade pink lemonade which was delicious.

Ben’s Chilli Bowl – Chilli Cheese Fries

Just sitting in the restaurant was quite an experience. The ambience was great with a jukebox playing tunes and pictures of Bill Cosby, Barrack Obama everywhere.

Ben’s Chilli Bowl – Barack Obama visiting

We found the service excellent and friendly, but if you don’t have a lot of time, this is not the place for fast food. Prices were reasonable considering the portion sizes. There is an ATM in the store as cash is not accepted.

We were stuffed by the time we walked out of there. It was an experience I can recommend whole-heartedly!